Govt ramps up local land deeds effort

The government is expediting the distribution of title deeds to the landless poor in 50 provinces as part of efforts to solve encroachment on forest reserves and reduce social disparities.

Deputy Interior Minister Niphon Bunyamanee yesterday signed a ministerial announcement designating 50 provinces which will undergo land surveys and mapping to issue land title deeds under the 1985 Land Code Amendment Act.

The project will begin on Oct 1 and run until Sept 30 next year and require more than 444 million baht to survey a total of 122,400 land plots in these provinces, including the three southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat as part of a policy to boost security, Mr Niphon said.

The project is part of the government’s 20-year national strategy which is intended to restore and preserve natural resources and the environment, and promote sustainable economic growth, the minister said.

“Land ownership is a guarantee people will have access to funding for further land development so they can boost crop production and earn more income,” Mr Niphon said.

The project will also ensure clarity in the demarcation of land boundaries, which in turn will help reduce encroachment on forest reserves, and prevent land disputes between the state and private sector, he said.

Currently, the public can download the LandsMaps app to access land information, such as the shapes and positions of land parcels nationwide, and satellite images of land boundaries, he added.